How Everton could line-up under Carlo Ancelotti now and after the January transfer window
Carlo Ancelotti looks set to be named Everton manager in the near future and he will have his work cut out at Goodison Park.
The Toffees sit just three points above the relegation zone and morale seems low in the dressing room.
Marco Silva was sacked following their 5-2 derby defeat to Liverpool and Duncan Ferguson has been in caretaker charge since.
The fan favourite has brought a renewed sense of passion to the club and enjoyed a 3-1 win over Chelsea and a 1-1 draw with Manchester United.
Ferguson will be in charge for the Carabao Cup clash with Leicester on Wednesday but Ancelotti could join in time for the match with Arsenal on Saturday, which is live on talkSPORT.
It seems only a matter of time before Ancelotti takes over at Everton and it will be a massive coup for the club considering the other jobs he was being linked to.
One of Ancelotti’s first jobs will be to stop conceding so many goals. Only four teams have conceded more than them this season while only six teams have scored fewer goals.
Here is how Everton could line-up if the Italian were to take over before Christmas.
Everton have several injury problems at the moment with Andre Gomes and Fabian Delph expected to be out for some time.
Morgan Schneiderlin will be back by January as will Theo Walcott. Lucas Digne picked up a groin injury against Manchester United and there is no timetable on his return.
Ancelotti favoured a 4-4-2 formation at Napoli and in this system Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin would be the two strikers through the middle.
Everton’s injury ravaged midfield could be made up of Bernard, Tom Davies, Alex Iwobi and Gylfi Sigurdsson.
The defence picks itself with Yerry Mina and Michael Keane as the centre-backs and Djibril Sidibe and Seamus Coleman at left and right-back respectively.
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If Everton do manage to get Ancelotti in before Christmas then there is no doubt he will be backed in the transfer window.
Here is how they could line-up with new signings in January and players returning to fitness.
Joining Everton in their current situation may not be very attractive and it would depend on how big a draw working with Carlo Ancelotti is.
They have been linked to players like Wilfried Zaha and Jack Grealish in the past but they are in better situations at their respective clubs and also may cost too much money.
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Olivier Giroud could be a player Ancelotti would target as he has been urged to leave Chelsea in search of regular football. If he wants to get a place at Euro 2020 then he must leave Stamford Bridge.
At Everton, Giroud would certainly play every week and could add some much needed goals alongside Richarlison, allowing the Brazilian more freedom to move across the frontline.
The Merseyside club were heavily linked to Ajax winger David Neres in the summer and Richarlison reportedly urged him to join at Everton.
Neres would add some much needed quality and pace from the left that would provide chances for the strikers, while Theo Waclott would provide the same from the right.
In the absences of Andre Gomes and Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Fabian Delph is the most likely player to add some steel to the midfield area for the time being, while Iwobi can create further forward.
It’s not the perfect solution but it might be a start.
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